The Surge Reviews
The Surge is occasionally electrifying, but combat issues and cheap enemies dampen enjoyment levels.
It may seem reductive calling The Surge a sci-fi Dark Souls clone, but the truth is, it doesn't really try to be much more than that.
In our present-day world, its prediction of a violent worker-versus-worker future feels hauntingly plausible.
The Surge is a far better game than Deck13's first effort, but there's still room for improvement.
The Surge has a lot of nice ideas, but most of them are stomped on by conflicting with the game design. Not a bad Souls-like, but not one that's particularly easy to recommend either.
The Surge has great gameplay and wonderful levels to get lost in as you run around throwing limbs about and destroying robots.
The Surge is the most badass game I've played all year, and a must-play title for any masochistic gamer who enjoys getting their ass handed to them regularly. Although the presentation and enemy variety are somewhat lacking, and technical issues occur occasionally, none of these issues come even close to putting a hamper on this thoroughly enjoyable experience. Play. This. Game.
Every bit as infuriating, enjoyable and insanely gratifying as an action RPG of this type should be, The Surge is great fun, thanks in no small part to its unique limb-cutting loot system and some tight combat mechanics.
Though it might not be particularly remarkable or memorable as a whole, the science fiction future setting is a nice departure from the dark fantasy that pervades hardcore action RPGs, and there are some new ideas in combat and advancement that differentiate The Surge from its peers.
The Surge won't be greatest game of this year, but you can consider buying it even at full price, if you are a fan of sci-fi and soulslike games. There are few problems which sometimes can be annoying, nonetheless - the game is fun to play.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Surge is an action-RPG in which you wield an exoskeleton to face off against a world of robots with combat similar to Dark Souls. While having little storyline or innovation, The Surge can still be a fun journey through a dystopian Earth. The difficulty certainly ramps up quickly, and the graphics and story are nothing to talk about, but if you're looking for a challenge then the Surge could be the next stop.
The Surge also has an admirable interest in real-life and a rare anger that manifests in excellent scenes of violence. But as well as being racked with contradictions (not to be mistaken with nuances) its length and the genre conventions into which it so heavily leans dramatically undermine what could have been a potent satire.
The Surge is great, and I say that with only a single qualifier - It's standing in a genre built by games that did more than great. Which isn't exactly fair to hold against this game, but if you've ended the age of fire, woke from the nightmare and torn through Japan, The Surge is going to scratch, if not satisfy that itch.
The Surge is without a doubt one of the best Souls-like titles to be released. Deck 13 has certainly proven that they have listened to the feedback from their previous game, and has crafted an epic sci-fi action RPG. While boss encounters are vastly unique, the journey to their location is the highlight in The Surge. Even so, The Surge still puts up quite a challenge, but rewards players that equip gear and implants that match their play style.
The promising story, reminiscent of every damn 70s sci-fi movie and one which drew me in almost immediately, really does take a backseat until the latter half of the game.
After putting in over 40+ hours into The Surge, I'm happy to admit that this game was a pleasant surprise. I fully expected this to be a failed attempt to capitalize on the Soulsborne series, like some many others. Instead, I played a game with an interesting story, tons of hidden content, a cast crafting system and more than enough combat to keep me swinging away. Deck 13 Interactive should be applauded for what they've managed to pull off and more importantly, it will help to remove the blemish that is Lords of the Fallen.
The Surge is an admirable riff on the Souls formula, with its novel setting and new mechanics making its mechanical and narrative blemishes easier to swallow.
Deck13 has improved their offering since Lords of the Fallen but this action-adventure RPG still fails to dazzle. It works well, but nothing more.
The Surge is a whirlwind of action-RPG fun with a fast and frantic melee-focused combat system, addictive loot systems and an immersive sci-fi horror atmosphere.
A Souls-like game with its own identity, The Surge deserves merit for its combat and sci-fi setting.